MIFTAH recently held a number of local and international meetings that included intensive discussions on Palestinian womenís issues within the Womenís Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and UNSCR 1325. MIFTAH shared numbers and data which clearly indicate to the ongoing violations against Palestinian women in Area C and Jerusalem. This data pointed to the scope of the violence exercised against Palestinian women in these areas, with a focus on violence against women as a result of Israeli occupation measures. These include home demolitions, settlement expansion and forced expulsion, all of which constitute compounded burdens on Palestinian women due to the lack of sufficient services such as water, electricity and housing. This is over and above the almost total lack of medical services, weak economic resources and limitations on freedom of movement.

Furthermore, issues of Palestinian women in Jerusalem were highlighted with a focus on residency rights. Palestinian women in the city live under constant threat from the Israeli government that they will be stripped of their rights as permanent residents of Jerusalem, either because they are married to Palestinian citizens from the West Bank or Gaza Strip or that they are the West Bank residents and could be kicked out of the city at any time. In addition, they must endure the heavy restrictions and financial burdens demanded by the Israeli government in order to prove they and their family reside in Jerusalem. This has threatened the Palestinian family unit in the city, has dispersed its members and allowed for the loss of womenís rights as a result of both Israeli civil laws and laws enacted by the PA. The report documented several cases of Palestinian women, each of whom constitutes a special case of violations and deprivation including family reunification issues, to living in an oppressive family atmosphere, to being separated or divorced.

Among the most significant recommendations reaffirmed by the members of the National Committee for Implementing UNSCR1325 and the grassroots coalitions working within the Womenís Peace and Security Agenda was the need for continuous feedback from women leaders to women at the grassroots level, which would help the integrality of the work; adherence to the pivotal points of the national plan for implementing UNSCR1325; the distribution of roles among partners and relevant parties such as direct responsibilities to be evaluated at a later time, with direct indication to the shortcomings of these parties in the resolutionís implementation and the serious problem of funding special activities of the implementing parties.

The sessions fall under the OXFAM-funded project ďPromoting Womenís Participation in Civic PeaceĒ, which is part of the program ďPolicy Dialogue and Good GovernanceĒ through which MIFTAH aims to provide dialogue spaces that guarantee interaction at the national and international level on pivotal Palestinian issues based on a framework of international legitimacy.

MIFTAH also participated in last weekís WPS week at the UN in New York, commemorating the 18th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 during which it showcased the violations Palestinian women endure under Israeli occupation in several of the eventís meetings and forums.